VIERA, Fla. – Brevard Public Schools will eliminate hundreds of staff positions as the district is dealing with a reduction in funding because of declining student enrollment.
According to News 6 partner Florida Today, Superintendent Mark Rendell sent a letter to employees on Wednesday, announcing that the district will cut 7% of staff positions in each department.
[VIDEO BELOW: Brevard School Board closes Cape View ES]
“Because employee salaries and benefits are more than 80% of district expenditures, we have reached the point where we need to reduce our staffing cost,” Rendell said.
The announcement comes just over a week after the school board voted to close Cape View Elementary School because of low student enrollment.
Orange County Public Schools has also considered closing seven schools because of a drop in enrollment.
The district said there has been millions in less funding due in part to declining birthrates and the expansion of Florida’s school voucher program.
[VIDEO BELOW: Work session held for Orange County school closures]
In Brevard County, Rendell said non-union positions would be eliminated first, with the majority coming from the district level.
“Some of these reductions will be achieved with the elimination of vacant positions but some will require the elimination of filled positions,” Rendell said. “Classroom teaching positions may only be impacted if there are not enough students to fill a class. These positions are tied to enrollment and class size requirements.”
The Brevard Federation of Teachers issued a statement in response to the superintendent’s announcement:
“We want to reassure every member that you are not facing these challenges alone. Your union will stand firmly with you through every step of this process and ensure that our contractual guarantees related to reduction in force are fully upheld.
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“We anticipated the budget shortfalls the district is now citing, which is why we fought early to secure a 2% raise each year for the next three years, reductions in health insurance costs, and a three-year contract that protects our hard-won language. These protections were intentionally negotiated to provide stability for our members during unstable times.
“While the district may be entering a period of uncertainty, our commitment to you remains steady and unwavering. We will continue to advocate, communicate, and defend your rights with the full strength of our union.”